Huskies Notebook: Rivera invites Bruins to launch

UW softball slugger on verge of school record for career homers

Published 10:00 pm, Tuesday, April 26, 2005

Washington catcher Kristen Rivera would prefer we just talk about the Huskies' 1 p.m. softball date today with 10th-ranked UCLA. But she cannot escape talk of the "record."

"I haven't tried to think about it as much as people keep bringing it up," said Rivera, whose next home run will tie Jaime Clark's UW career record of 73.

Rivera, the reigning Pac-10 Player of the Year, is all over the Huskies' record book. She'll likely top the career lists in slugging percentage, walks and on-base percentage when she finishes her senior year this spring. She'll also hold season records for all of the above, as well as home runs. (She hit 25 last year to break Jenny Topping's record from 2000.)

Rivera said she never really had her eye on the record books, though.

"I just pretty much came here to play. Honestly, I didn't think I'd hit as many home runs as I've hit," she said.

As big as her first 72 homers have been for the team, Rivera's next two will be milestones.

Clark, a three-time All-American who graduated in 2003, is thrilled about it, as well.

"I think it was bound to happen. I didn't play well enough my last year to seal the deal on it," said Clark, now an assistant coach at Northwestern during her USA Softball offseason. "I expected it, and I expected it from Kristen."

Clark said she doesn't even remember her record home run, which was the 44th of her career to pass Jennifer Cline.

Rather, she said, her most memorable home run came against today's Huskies opponent -- UCLA.

"I remember it because we beat UCLA on our home field and my brother (Chris Wilson) was there to see it. He used to say it was all a hoax because when he'd come see me, I'd strike out and make a game-losing error," Clark said. "It was the first one he got to see."

Home runs have become just as commonplace for Rivera, who is on track to become the program's first four-time All-American.

"It tied up the score in the World Series and was a big one (for the team)," Rivera said, though the Huskies ended up losing 2-1.

Intentional walks seemed to be the only thing that would keep Rivera from breaking the record convincingly as she came into the season with 58.

Rivera has already been walked 51 times to go with 81 at-bats. But with a .988 slugging percentage, it is little wonder.

Rivera is hitting .407 with 14 homers and 39 RBIs, all team highs.

SOFTBALL NOTES: Freshman right fielder Lauren Green was named Pac-10 Player of the Week after hitting .667 (8-for-12) as the Huskies won three of four games last week. Among her hits was a game-winning two-run homer against UCLA. ... Third baseman Kathy Fiske hit a grand slam in Sunday's 22-1 win at Nevada to set a UW record for career grand slams (5).

BASEBALL UPDATE: Center fielder Nick Burnham and catcher Matt Lane could return to the Washington lineup this weekend as the Huskies face Washington State in Pullman for a three-game series.

The Huskies (24-17, 4-8 in Pac-10) have been hit by injuries this season with five regular players missing time with injuries, three of which required surgery.

Burnham has missed the past four weeks with a knee injury that required surgery, and Lane has been out since April 8 with a knee injury.

Outfielder Taylor Johnson returned last weekend after missing four games with a pulled hamstring.

Sophomore reliever Richie Lentz, expected to be the team's closer this season, had elbow surgery earlier this month and is out for the season. Outfielder and designated hitter Matt Stevens broke a bone in his hand (requiring surgery) and will likely miss several more weeks, while reserve infielder Josh Showers has missed most of the season with a back injury.